The Pittsburgh Steelers had a chance to assemble one of the better offensive staffs in the NFL this offseason.
And while it’s too soon to determine if they have done that with their current hires and re-hires, the names signed today don’t carry the same weight that some of the presumptive candidates did.
Pittsburgh decided to go with what they knew, and now it’s either going to be a smart play, or a what-could-have-been situation:
As far as the QB coach, the retention of Sullivan seems like the best move in my opinion. His obvious rapport with Kenny Pickett and re-energization of the offense when he took over playcalling earned him the job, as Sullivan even garnered interviews in other places to be an OC.
But the same can’t be said for their hiring at WR coach. For one, Azzani comes from two organizations via Denver and New York that had some talent on the perimeter, yet struggled to pass the ball at a high level.
But beyond that is the obvious missed opportunity that could have been a reunion with Hines Ward. This wasn’t some feel-good story. Ward has spent most of his post-playing career as a coach both at the college and pro level, meaning he had the credentials for the job.
So it comes off as disappointing at first glance, but the Steelers have confidence in their hiring process.
One thing is for sure, there will be a new offense in Pittsburgh this season.
How well that offense performs… that’s still up for debate.
